AppleRatherHaveLG,NotSamsungfor2018iPhoneOLEDDisplays

The 2018 iPhone could feature OLED displays from a different provider.

If Apple has its way, LG Display will become an important player in the small- to medium-sized OLED marketplace by 2018. Apple’s support for such a move comes as the iPhone maker hopes to diversify its supply chain and reduce its reliance on Samsung, according to Business Korea.

The report notes that Cupertino has asked LG to “take part in a bid for receiving an order for small and medium-sized OLEDs from Apple.” The company says a decision would come before the end June, based “on OLED production technology, capacity and the accompanying investment volume.”

Rival Samsung is currently the largest OLED manufacturer in the world. Because of this, Apple will solely rely on its chief rival to provide OLED panels for this year’s so-called “iPhone 8.” A reporter earlier this month said that Apple has ordered 70 million iPhone 8 OLED panels from Samsung. Another report said that number could exceed 92 million units.

Apple already counts on LG to supply OLED displays for the Apple Watch Series 2. Therefore, a possible move to iPhone makes sense.